how do i survive a reflux baby, he cries a lot, he is on Losac

Lynette - posted on 03/03/2011
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he is 4 months old, doesn't take a bottle and keeps on cracking my nipples as he squirms from refluxing whilst feeding and gets terrible wind from feeding so poorly, we have just started on solids as suggested by the dr and his cot is proped up. I NEED SLEEP

I have 2 daughters that had GERD as infants. Since they are only 15 months apart, it was a very long 2 years. They both refluxed differently. My oldest would 'leak' and asperate. My second daughter could hit the wall 10 feet away. We had the girls evaluated at a feeding clinic. Both girls were put on special formulas, we tried thickening, we did smaller feeds more often, they were on Zantac and other meds to reduce the burn. What really help the most with both is making sure they were at a 45 degree angle during feeds, and remained upright for 30-45 minutes after the feedings. We learned infant massage, which eased the gas. We also got an infant reflux wedge and both girls slept on their tummy in this wedge. (This was per perscription from the doctor) They slept longer, refluxed less and didn't asperate. As they developed stronger torso muscles when they learned to sit and crawl the symptoms became less and by 1 they were both doing great. It is very overwhelming when you are in the mist of it, but it gets better. When you need a break or to rest let your friends and family take him for an hour or two. They'll love helping and you will feel better:)

I ask because the health dept protocol in Australia for Losec is 5mg per day. That means that a GP, family doctor, hospital employed doctor or government employed doctor can only presribe 5mg, regardless of the severity of the case or size of the baby. But 5mg does nothing for babies with severe reflux. A private specialist can prescribe up to 30mg. There are also stronger meds he can have. It sounds to me like the current meds aren't helping. I work with babies who have sleep problems and can tell you it is impossible to fix sleep or feeding disorders (which he might be on his way to) until the pain is gone. Babies brains operate mostly on instinct, when pain responses are present that overrides everything else.

Chirsty, both my kids had dairy intollerance (my second has also soy and probably yeast intollerance) and I was able to successfully breastfeed both past 12 mths. Matter of fact I still do bf my 2nd child who is now 2 and she suffered reflux with the intollerances, its the only thing she can have that will and has provided her with all the right nutrients she needs to grow up healthily. So, just for future reference one can still bf a refluxy baby who has intollerances/allergies and there is no need for specialist formula in these circumstances if one so wishes :-)

What about prevcid? My kids were on that and it worked wonders. Also, they had a protein allergy that they both grew out of at about 12 months. It required special formula, Similac Alimentum. I was unable to breastfeed due to these issues in my kids.

I have found that many a time the reflux is a cause of food intollerances!!!The most common culprits are: Dairy, eggs, wheat, soy.These can go thru breastmilk and affect the tummies of little babies. Instead of trying solids so early on such a weakened stomach. That is right, weakened, as (if this reflux, like most of the time it is, caused by fodd intollerances, it is seriously inflamed, so at the same time weakened).I would first start an elimination diet. Speak with a naturopath regarding this, a good GP can also help. Dairy is usually the major culprit in tummy upsets in babies. If you cut out dairy completely you then have to watch for signs of improvements (however, dairy takes up to 2-3 weeks to completely leave your system, so patience is needed).Also, speak with local LLL regarding different breastfeeding positions. Have you tried holding your baby upright to the breast while you are leaning back slightly? That may help, especially when dealing with a refluxy baby who has got bad acid burn in his little throat. Poor bubba, and poor mumma too. Oh, and by the way.... "grow out of it eventually" is not always sooner than later. I didn't grow out of my reflux till I was 5 years old!!!!!!!!!! And I still have troubles to stomach warm MILK! 32years later.Speak with someone professional re diet elimination and see how things will improve (9/10 times that is the biggest culprit of relflux - food intollerances)

I'm sorry you are going through this. It is exhausting. My son slept upright on his belly on me while I was propped upright in the middle of my bed for 5 months. It was the only way either one of us got any sleep at night.

We had no interest in bottles and he didn't start eating solids on a regular basis til close to a year. He did outgrow the reflux at 6 months though, so there IS hope that your son might outgrow it early as well.

They have different bottles that are more like the nipple. maybe that would work. some babies will only drink from certain bottles. just keep trying he needs the either formula or breast milk. Ask the dr about reflux medicine my sister has a little boy and he has to be on medicine so he can keep his food down. good luck just try not to stress and keep asking the dr questions.

wow solids at 4 months...i was told to start solids at 6 but i guess every doctor is different..i tried several formulas with my son including soy,and finally i took him to see the doctor,and he got put on a prisctiption to help Reflux. what happens with him,he eats so fast, and finds milk soothing thats why he acts starved...and ends up upchucking it all. the dr also wanted me to take him off soy and put him back on a regular formula.